Need to upgrade educational standard, says President

New Delhi: Voicing concern over the quality of education, President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said the ‘demographic dividend’ would be an empty dream if the present educational standards are not upgraded.

"Our youth will end up contributing less to nation-building unless they are imparted quality education and requisite skills," he said while addressing a meeting of the Directors of Institute of Science and Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The President called upon IISc and IISERs to promote a culture of excellence with zero tolerance for mediocrity, a statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

Mukherjee said science, education, research and innovation are the four pillars on which the development as well as the work culture of a nation rests.

"Scientific temperament cannot happen unless we improve the delivery of education at all levels. IISERs must teach sciences in an intellectually vibrant atmosphere of research," he said.

Following the President's opening remarks, the Directors of IISc and IISERs made presentations on the agenda items for discussion, namely status of IISc and IISERs; issues which require Government support and preparation of a road map for making IISc and IISERs world class institutes.

He said in spite of established institutions like IISc and IITs, India sends more than two lakh students abroad every year for tertiary education.